Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

Matthew 19:16

How desirous are you of living a spiritual life? Do you covet it enough to trade something of immense value for it? What wise person will not sacrifice everything to gain what they genuinely need?

This is what Jesus meant when He made this poignant statement. 

“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be as well” (Matthew 6:21).

The heart consistently strides with our valuables. It always pursues what we desire, and we will spare nothing to get what we want. 

The Rich Young Man in Matt. 19:16-30 typifies the tendency of many to be so flighty in pursuit of the kingdom of God. He approached Jesus with a question about the way to gain eternal life. He was boastful about how faithfully he had kept the commandments Jesus suggested since his youth (20). However, when Jesus commanded him to give away all his possessions to the poor and come back to follow Him, he walked away with a long face because of his great wealth (22). He had no intention of trading his great wealth for what he sought from Jesus. His treasure revealed where his heart dwelt. So, what kept him from the Kingdom of God?

Of course, his great material possessions, but there were other variables in his consideration—his reputation (20), youthfulness, and prosperity—a mix that brought him recognition and influence. Like the Yuppies of Wall Street and the celebrities of Hollywood, this young man was egotistic. Besides, he was a ruler (Luke 18:18), and that added authority to his cache of wealth. Why then would he surrender those superlatives for what he cherished little? 

In the Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl, those who discovered them sold all they had to purchase the fields (Matthew 13:44-45). They had their priorities right in life. As Jim Elliot has said, 

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

No one can call the Lord’s bluff. He knows what you are seeking before you ask. As the young man walked away deflated, Jesus remarked to His disciples how hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 19:23).

You may not be rich in material possessions like that young ruler. However, you may be rich in other things—pride, prejudice, malice, and bitterness, traditional and cultural norms, and much more. Are you willing to give up all you have for the sake of the Kingdom of God?